I seem to have good skin. I’ve never really thought so, but I always get compliments on it, especially when my age comes up 😉 And then, I’m inevitably asked what products I use. Recently, I really credit Josie Maran’s Argan Oil with giving my skin a nice healthy glow and keeping it supple, but for many many years, I’ve been a Kiehl’s addict. Below are some of the things I’m currently using – let me know if you have any other suggestions or things you love. I LOVE skincare recommendations – buying new products ALWAYS makes me nervous – that’s why I’ve stuck with Kiehl’s for so long.
Only recently (in the last year) I’ve started to notice dark spots on my face – mostly around my eyes – and some discoloration. I’m assuming that’s a result of sun damage and also a lovely side effect of getting older 😉 but I don’t like it. About three months ago, I bought “Even better clinical” by Clinique and used it religiously (twice a day), but now I’m trying something new. I did notice that it lightened my skin tone all over, but didn’t seem to do much for my splotches.
Yesterday, I picked this up at Sephora:
And hopefully it will be a little more potent against my dark spots; we’ll see. Have you tried it? What did you think?
I also placed an order with Kiehl’s this AM – it’s time for me to replenish my basics:
I’ve been using this Abyssine lotion for years, and I love it. It lasts forever, and goes on perfectly. My skin is not very dry, but it’s not oily; the Abyssine lotion is thin enough that it doesn’t feel heavy at all, but it’s also so moisturizing that it feels like you’ve slathered on a thick cream. If that makes sense 😉 Since I’ve started using Josie Maran’s Argan Oil, I only use this in the morning.
I’ve been using this mineral mascara for about a year now. Before, I used Blinc’s “tube” mascara, which I also loved, but this is a bit cheaper, and paraben-free. I loved the Blinc mascara partly because it was so easy to take off, but performance-wise, I think it’s about the same as the Kiehl’s…
I. Love. This. Conditioner. I haven’t used it in a while because I’ve been trying to use regular drugstore brands and ween myself off of high-end beauty products, but I’ve missed it. I love that you can leave it in or rinse it out (so I don’t have to worry if I don’t get it all rinsed out, which is a PAIN with my thick long hair right now). And I never have tangles with this. Back about 10 years ago – the last time I had long hair – Kiehl’s used to have a spray-on detangler/conditioner that I was absolutely addicted to. They’ve discontinued it for this time around…
I also use Josie Maran’s Argan Oil hair serum, but not very often recently since I’ve been using a leave-in conditioner (I felt like the combination would be too heavy on my hair). I can’t tell if it’s doing much, but I never style my hair, I just let it air dry. Maybe in combo with a flat iron my hair would look more shiny…
Oh, I almost forgot to add the new cleanser I’m using by Caudalie. It’s WONDERFUL.
So…do tell!! What are your favorite skin care products?
What active ingredient is even in the Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector?? The Philosophy stuff comes recommended by some dermatologists I know, mainly because it has retinol in it, the only thing proven to actually work on wrinkles. Just be careful if that Clinique stuff wasn’t also a retinol, because they can take some time for your skin to get used to and if you wax your eyebrows, keep the stuff away from anywhere that you wax as it thins the skin & could cause tearing. I worked in dermatology for 3 years (at an academic medical center, running clinical trials) and the most important thing I learned about products is to ignore the “sale” aspect of them and focus on the ingredients. Most high end beauty products are nothing but drug store quality with one or two random and “exotic” ingredients that they use to justify the expensive price, and these days, more and more drug store brands such as Oil of Olay are using the potent ingredients but at much cheaper prices.
If you really aren’t satisfied with a topical treatment for the dark spots, think about going to get a laser treatment, because the overall problem with a cream is that it’ll lighten EVERYTHING you put it on, which you experienced. Lasers are at least targeted to the areas that need treatment, but they can be expensive. A cheaper alternative is to find an academic medical center and see if they do a resident clinic which would offer treatments for free or reduced cost, under the supervision of an expert dermatologist. Avoid the estheticians and such because really, if someone is going to put a laser to my face, it better be a real doctor who studies dermatology. 😛
You do look like you have lovely skin. If you have discoloration, don’t run around town buying expensive products. Go to a dermatologist whose specialty is skin (you’ll be spending plenty enough there) and let the doc look at your skin and prescribe a cream or treatment. That’s what I do and I think it’s better than buying a lot of creams that promise all sorts of things.
As a makeup artist and skincare guru, the gold standards of dermatology are these:
1)Wear sunscreen everyday! (and SPF 30 is preferred)
2)Use a product with anti-oxidants during the day (vitamins A,C, and E) to help repair environmental damage, sun damage, etc. and brighten the skin!
3)Use a retinoid product at night–there is NOTHING better for your skin if you want to see fine lines and discoloration disappear. “help me” by Philosophy gets high marks!
Take care of that beautiful skin in that Austin, TX sunshine, Grechen!!! (great choices, btw)
so, what do you recommend for #2? i get confused about layering stuff though…how much can you/should you layer on top of one another??
i agree with the earlier comment, a visit to the dermatologist is in order – they can give you the best lightening cream for about the same amount of money you are paying (plus initial office visit). It’s so worth it1